Would you leave a note about a neighbour's distressed dog?

[Hedgehogfan59]

We have new neighbours moved into the flat above us, they seem ok although we haven't actually spoken to them yet. They have a dog ( we have two) and unfortunately when they go out the dog cries, howls and barks, which is distressing to hear. The dog is usually left for a couple of hours maximum. We don't know whether to put a note through the door offering help or call the rspca. We do sympathise as one of our dogs has separation anxiety, but it is horrible to hear her so sad. Any ideas please?

Speak to your neighbours?
Can't believe you're thinking of reporting them rather than having a conversation.

Yes, I'd definitely let them know. Either by a note or a conversation.

~Go and talk to them (nicely though)

Yes definitely tell them

my dog was doing this and I had no idea until neighbours let it slip. I wish they had told me sooner

Speak to the neighbours, don't go straight to reporting them, that would be very unfair.

Talk to your neighbours, for the sake of the dog. I'd want to know if my dog was distressed when I was out, so I could help it.

I go against everyone else above & would report to RSPCA. This is because I think anyone who regularly leaves their dog alone in a flat for hours will not care enough about its welfare to deal with this issue in a humane way.

I also suspect from what you describe that the dog will be showing signs of distress when they return - for instance damage to room- so that they are already perfectly well aware of the misery they are inflicting on this unfortunate animal.

So I don't think a note would achieve anything at all - these are unpleasant people.

How odd. They are leaving it for two hours. That's quite normal and not that long. Most dogs will be quite happy with that. My dogs don't destroy things, so that wouldn't mean anything. If they are out, they can't know if the dog is unhappy. I know I'd want to be told as I want my dog to be happy. The RSPCA wouldn't do anything but offer advice, since my dogs are very well looked after and pampered, as my vet could confirm. I know I'd feel terrible if I knew my dog was sad when I was out and would do everything to remedy it as fast as possible. The dog may be suffering from separation anxiety. I got my dog a friend dog though, so they are always good with each other.

My dog was happy to be left alone for an hour or 2 when young. He then came away on holiday with us for a fortnight, where he wasn’t left and I went back to my usual routine of popping out for periods when home.

My neighbour let me know he was howling (this was a new behaviour since the holiday). He didn’t caused damage so I wouldn’t have known. As soon as the neighbour let me know, I stopped leaving him, installed a camera and then started to leave him for just 5 -10 minutes initially, monitoring the camera to check him. Over time I could gradually build up to a few hours again.

I was so grateful my neighbour told me and all dogs and humans were happy!

Definitely chat to neighbours. We have a JRT who was only ever left for two hours max but our lovely neighbour told us that she starts crying after about an hour and a half.
We would never have known if neighbour hadn’t told us .

No neighbour issue has ever been resolved by a note. Speak to them.

I was in this exact position and I went ahead and left the note. I made sure it was friendly, told them who I was so it wasn’t from a mystery angry neighbour and wrote it from a place of concern and wanting to help and said I was a dog owner myself and would want to know if it was my fur baby who was distressed.

It turned out they had no clue how distressed their dog had been getting and they were thankful for the heads up.

Speak to them and say you would also want to know if your dog was the same.
My neighbour had a dog staying frequently who would break her heart crying when she was left. I let neighbour know. Turned out neighbour didnt think it a problem but she didnt have to listen to it! If it had lived there permanently and left like that having had no action from neighbour id have contacted council/rspca.

Im reasonably sure my cats dont cry when I leave (one in particular is a crier) but I would have no way of knowing unless a neighbour told me.

The RSPCA won’t do anything.

i have a howling dog next door to me that’s shit in one room whilst they go out. He can howl for hours. I have tried all avenues but essentially if the dog has food and water nobody is getting involved. I even tried the council but it’s not a noise complaint due to it being daytime. The poor dog is constantly howling when they leave and they give zero fucks.